UK State Pension Review
Check your UK State Pension to help make the most of your retirement income
Our review service shows what you’re entitled to, helps you find any gaps in your National Insurance record, and explains how you can increase your UK State Pension.
What is the UK State Pension?
The UK State Pension is a regular payment from the government once you reach State Pension age. It gives you a basic income in retirement and is based on your National Insurance contributions throughout your working life.
How much you get will depend on the number of years you have on your National Insurance record.
You need at least 10 qualifying years to get any State Pension, and 35 years to get the full amount. Even if you have fewer years, you may still qualify for a partial pension.
The current full rate State Pension is £230.25 a week. The amount you get depends on your work history, if you’ve lived or worked abroad, and any gaps in your National Insurance record.
You can check your State Pension forecast on the government website.
How to increase your State Pension
State Pension top-ups
If your National Insurance (NI) record shows any missing years, you may be able to increase your pension by making a State Pension top-up, also known as a voluntary National Insurance contribution.
This is a good way to fill gaps in your record and increase your future pension income. It’s especially helpful for expats, who often have gaps in their National Insurance because they didn’t pay it while working abroad.
Deferring your pension
You can also boost your State Pension by delaying your claim. For each year you wait, your weekly payments could go up by almost 5.8%.
The UK State Pension for expats
The State Pension isn’t just for people living in the UK. If you’re a UK expat or you lived and worked in the UK before moving back to your home country, you may still be entitled to receive it.
Who can claim the UK State Pension?
You may be eligible to receive the UK State Pension if:
- You previously worked in the UK and paid National Insurance contributions.
- You’ve since moved overseas permanently.
- You're a UK national living abroad or a foreign national who worked in the UK before returning home.
- You have at least 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record.
Our advisers help both UK citizens living abroad and international workers who have spent time in the UK. Our UK State Pension review helps expats understand what they’re entitled to, spot any gaps, and decide if topping up is right for them.
The benefits of a UK State Pension review
A pension transfer can offer several benefits, including:
Identify gaps
Spot gaps in your National Insurance record that could lower your pension entitlement.
Get a forecast
See exactly how much you can expect to get when you retire.
Boost income
Find out if topping up your State Pension is right for you and other ways to boost your retirement income.
Retirement planning
Understanding your State Pension helps you build a stronger retirement plan.
Tools to make sure you’re on track
The State Pension alone probably won’t give you enough income to fully support you in retirement.
Our retirement planning calculator lets you check your pension forecast and see how much you might have when you retire.
How a State Pension review works
A State Pension review is the first step to making the most of your entitlement. Our expert advisers help you understand your current situation and look at ways to increase your pension income.
Here’s how it works:
Review
We begin by gathering the details of your current State Pension forecast.
Check
We help you find any missing or incomplete years in your record.
Assess
Our team explains your options and the benefits of making State Pension top-ups to fill any gaps.
Advise
We give expert guidance on your State Pension and private pensions to help you get the most from your retirement income.
Maximise your retirement income
Get a clear view of your UK State Pension and explore ways to increase your retirement income with our expert review service.
UK State Pension FAQs
The triple lock ensures the State Pension goes up every year based on three measures:
- Average earnings
- A measure of inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI)
- 2.5%
The State Pension rises by whichever of these three is highest. The triple lock doesn’t apply everywhere, so some expats may not get these increases.
You can check your record online through the UK government gateway or with help from an adviser. We’ll guide you through each step and explain what your record means for your State Pension.
You need 35 qualifying years to get the full State Pension. Gaps in your National Insurance record can lower your entitlement. If you have fewer than 10 qualifying years, you won’t get any State Pension. You might be able to make voluntary contributions to fill gaps and increase your pension income.
Yes, expats can typically top up their State Pension. There may be limits on how many years you can cover. Our advisers can review your international work history and help you find out if you’re eligible for top-ups.
We offer a free UK State Pension review. Our advisers will give you a clear overview of your entitlements and options.